Hogg calls on Scots to keep their focus at Murrayfield

STUART Hogg is confident that Scotland have what it takes to beat Ireland this afternoon provided they avoid the costly lapses of concentration they have suffered in some previous games.

The captain believes that he and other key players such as Finn Russell and Ali Price are playing with greater composure than ever, but knows that composure will have to be present throughout the team from kick-off to final whistle if they are to win the Six Nations match at Murrayfield.

“Over the last couple of games, it’s the calmest I’ve ever been, the calmest I’ve seen Finn and Ali drive us round the field,” Hogg said yesterday. “We feel we’re in control at times, but these moments where you slip up for five or ten seconds, you can’t get away with in international rugby.

“We know fine well we can beat any team on any given day. But for us to do that it needs a complete 80-minute performance, to have that clinical edge in attack that Gregor [Townsend, the head coach] has talked about, and making sure we’re converting opportunities.”

Scotland put in something akin to that 80-minute performance in their first outing of the Championship against England to claim a first win at Twickenham since 1983, but then lost at home to Wales due in part to some lapses of concentration.

“Between the England and Wales games, we left four or five tries out there,” the full-back added. “It’s exciting for us to know we can create opportunities, but it’s a frustration and a disappointment that we’ve not really had that clinical edge in our game. If we get these things right, take our opportunities, we’ll grow in confidence and you’ll see a true Scottish performance.”